Why is this so incredibly difficult to get to run off a variety of different / properly formatted USB sticks? Ubuntu looks great in the demo - but getting it is a joke. I'll drop off the Acer at Goodwill.

2 Answers
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Can you obtain/borrow a 'USB startup disk' created on Ubuntu 12.04 (or 12.10)? (eg. Ask a friend.)

Some of the alternate methods (on Windows, other Linux, earlier kernel, etc.) may have the boot device as a 'CD/DVD drive', so it will fail looking for a brand/model of CD/DVD matching your USB device. Alternatively, try burning a DVD (on Windows, other Linux, Mac).

That's a good idea, but I doubt any of my friends would have it. I will ask. I have tried with a memorex usb as well as an imation. I just want to get it working. One of those things that I've put in this much time, that I want to see through to the end. Anyone in Toronto or York Region willing to help a brother out? :) Thank you for your reply / suggestion.
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MikeApr 17 '13 at 21:53

Due to the fact that I'm not allowed to add comments (yet), here are my 2 cents: According to the system specs of the computer you have (ZG5, 512MB ram, 8GB SSD), I'd go with Lubuntu 12.10 because of the apparent low resource machine. I am using an emachines 355 (a renamed aspire one) and Ubuntu was a bit heavy for it so I switched to Lubuntu and it works like a charm.

Thank you user123492 - I am pulling down Lubuntu 12.04. I tried 12.10 - but Unetbootin doesn't go that high. I tried just mounting the iso from a usb stick, but ended up in the same place where it has trouble reading the CD-Drive - which makes me think it's just not finding the USB to use as a drive or disk. I tried a net install of ubuntu, got my wireless parameters and network all entered properly, then it just hangs at a purple screen with a command prompt and does nothing. I'm trying to resurrect this Linux based Acer Aspire (that will no longer update), but this is really a pain :)
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MikeApr 17 '13 at 21:48

Nope. Lubuntu 12.04 didn't work either. Text installer did the CD not found thing / retry - but then I took the USB out and said 'try again' - then it gave the option to check all drives, then put the USB back in and it found it - said it would use the ISO to install - then went back to the CD not found loop.
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MikeApr 18 '13 at 0:42